Today's Passage: John 17

Chances are if you are reading this you are part of the "wired" world and somewhat (if not totally) dependent on an energy source for power to the devices you use. Being disconnected from the energy source would prove frustrating very quickly.

Also, many of us remember playing the telephone game as children. The end message was always so different from the original I was sure certain individuals had deliberately distorted the message just to be funny. Misunderstanding a communication we must act on has far more devastating consequences than even loss of energy source.

In today's chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus is praying for His followers, both then and in the future (John 17:20). He prays for our protection from the evil one and repeats a theme several times:  "...that they may be one as We are." (John 17:11). Jesus could accomplish nothing when He came to earth if He had decided to act apart from the Father, or had become disconnected from His Father.

For His message in all its power to stay pure, undiluted and effective, His disciples need to be one with Him and one with each other. (John 17:21).

If Jesus knew that the most dangerous things that could happen to His followers would be 1) separation from the Father (source of power and relationship) and 2) lack of unity among the brethren (our witness to the world that we are one with Him), let us be on our guard to make sure these two things stay strong and prayerful. For if we do, the gates of Hell will not prevail against His church. (Matthew 16:18).